SECTION 1 - NAME: The name of this organization shall be
"The South Carolina Mid-State Beekeepers Association," herein defined
as the "Association".

ARTICLE 2

(OBJECTIVES)

SECTION 1 - OBJECTIVES: The objective of this nonprofit
organization shall be to educate, support, and foster the skills of beekeepers
using current best management practices, to share experience and methods on
improving honey production for back yard beekeepers and businesses, and provide
the members of the association an opportunity to purchase honey bees and
queens. The association will also inform and educate the public on the
importance of honey bees for pollination, food, and safe pesticide usage via
community outreach and other events.

ARTICLE 3

(MEMBERS)

SECTION 1 - MEMBERS: Anyone interested in beekeeping and the
beekeeping industry may join the Association upon payment of the regular annual
dues. The right to vote shall be limited to members.

SECTION 2 -JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP: Non-voting Jr. Membership
shall be free to all interested youth under sixteen (16) years of age.

ARTICLE 4

(OFFICERS)

SECTION 1- OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS: The officers of the
Association shall be: past-president, president, president-elect; vice-president,
secretary, and the treasurer. The past-president, president, and president-elect
shall serve a one-year term in each position, transitioning to the next the
following year such that president-elect shall serve one year, transition to president
to serve for one-year term, and then transition to past-president, to serve for
one year. The secretary and treasurer
officers shall each serve a two (2) year term, with the elections being held on
alternating years starting in 2018, wherein a new Secretary will be elected,
2019, a new Treasurer will be elected, 2020, a new Secretary, and so forth. The
Association members shall elect these officers by a majority vote of the
members present at the September meeting. The officers newly elected will learn under the outgoing board member
for a period of three months, assuming full responsibility for their position
January 1st. The Association
shall have three (3) Directors making up a “Board” with a service of three
years, with one Director retiring each year in a designated term. The
Association members then shall elect by a majority vote of the members present,
one Director to serve for a three-year term. A Director may serve two (2)
successive terms and then be reelected after a one (1) year absence from the
Board. The Board shall be composed of the Officers and the Directors.

ARTICLE 5

(DUTIES OF OFFICERS)

SECTION 1- PRESIDENT: The president
shall preside at all meetings of the Association using regular parliamentary
procedures according to Roberts Rules of Order. This officer shall appoint such
special committees as is deemed necessary, fill vacancies of any officers, and
perform such other duties as the Association may direct. The president will be
authorized to make deposits, and disburse all monies, should the treasurer be
unable to perform those duties.

SECTION 2 – PRESIDENT-ELECT: It
shall be the duty of the president-elect to perform the duties of the president
in his or her absence or upon the president's request. If the president-elect
is unable to perform this duty in the absence of the president, then the president-elect
may appoint the past-president to do so (or any member to act in his/her stead
with the consent of the majority of the directors).

SECTION 3 – PAST-PRESIDENT: The past-president
will attend all executive board meetings and offer any advice the previous two
years of experience on the board may have given but will have no vote unless
votes are equally divided – in which case the past-president may cast a
tie-breaking vote. The past-president
will also cover for the president and/or president-elect in case either are
unable to fulfil their duties.

SECTION 4 – SECRETARY: The secretary shall maintain accurate
written records (minutes) of the proceedings of the organization. This officer shall keep all committee
correspondence on file and maintain the official membership roll. He/She will process the general
correspondence including the agenda for monthly meetings as well as sending out
notices to the membership of meetings. The secretary will head a committee to maintain the content on the
Association’s website and any other internet presence the Association may hold.
The secretary will interface with the state organization for the purpose of
maintaining the records of those members that have joint membership.

SECTION 4 – TREASURER: The treasurer shall collect the
annual dues from the members. This officer shall be custodian of all monies
received by the Association and keep full and accurate records showing the
receipts and disbursements of all monies. The treasurer shall close the
Association's books prior to each January meeting and make a complete report on
the membership and the financial standings of the Association at that time.
Also, he/she shall make an annual financial report at the end of the accounting
period of December 31 of each year and file the necessary information returns
to the Internal Revenue Service. He/she will see that the president is also
authorized to make deposits and disburse all monies if the treasurer is unable
to perform these duties. He/she shall present all records and books to the directors
for examination and auditing after December 31. After auditing is complete and
a report is prepared for the February meeting, all monies and books are
immediately to be turned over to the succeeding treasurer at said meeting.
He/She shall prepare a membership list showing paid up, delinquent or inactive
members for review by the directors.

SECTION 5 - DIRECTORS: The three elected directors shall
examine and audit the books of the treasurer, no later than January 15th of
each year and report at the February monthly meeting their findings and make
recommendations to the members attending the meeting. Should they be unable to
act and serve, the president of the Association shall appoint temporary directors
to serve in their absence. Directors making up the board shall make suggestions
and recommendations and shall serve in a consultative role to the president and
other officers of the organization. Directors shall also assist in the planning
and the implementation of monthly programs.

ARTICLE 6

(MEETINGS)

SECTION 1 - MEETINGS: There shall be monthly meetings per
year until a majority of members vote otherwise. Notice of each meeting shall
be emailed by the Secretary to each member of the Association or otherwise
adequately advertised at least one (1) week before the meeting. The time and
place for each meeting shall be decided on by a majority vote of the members of
the Board at its meeting. If this is not possible, the Officers will make the
necessary arrangements for said meeting.

SECTION 2 - ELECTIONS: The election of directors and officers
shall be at the September meeting to allow for a three-month transition for the
newly elected board members.

ARTICLE 7

(QUORUM)

SECTION 1 - QUORUM: A majority of the membership present at
a regular meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at
any regular meeting. (See Article 10 Section 1 Amendment)

ARTICLE 8

(DUES)

SECTION 1 - DUES: The fee of annual dues shall be determined
by recommendation of the board and approved by a majority of the membership
present at a regular meeting, and payable in advance to the treasurer of the
Association and shall be due on January 1 of the fiscal year covered by said
dues. All dues and voting privileges expire on December 31 of each year. The
Association shall start to collect annual dues for upcoming fiscal year on
October 1st of the prior year to allow members the ability to
register for upcoming events or purchase items in store for upcoming fiscal
year. Any member of the Association who has not paid dues by the time of the
April meeting will be dropped from the role of membership and shall cease to be
a member of the Association.

A person, who has
been dropped from the role of membership for non-payment of dues, may be
restored to active membership by paying the current years dues.

ARTICLE 9

(AFFILIATED
ORGANIZATIONS)

SECTION 1 - AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS: The Association may
associate itself and determine its own basis of support for the current year
and for so long as is desirable, with any other state or National Beekeeping
Association by a majority of the members attending a regular meeting.

SECTION 2 - COUNTY OF REGIONAL BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION: All county and/or Regional Beekeepers
Associations or Beekeepers Clubs are encouraged and invited to associate
themselves with the South Carolina Beekeepers Association.

ARTICLE 10

(AMMENDMENTS)

SECTION 1 - AMENDMENTS: Any article or any section of any
article of the Constitution and By- Laws may be amended at any regular meeting
by a majority vote of all members present providing proposed amendments have
been presented to the Board for their recommendation and have been presented in
writing to the entire membership at least Fourteen (14) days before the meeting
via newsletter.

ARTICLE 11

(DISSOLUTION)

SECTION 1 – If the Association is in good standing with the
South Carolina Secretary of State, then the Association’s assets shall be
distributed, in whole, to that organization. If the SOUTH CAROLINA BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION is not in good standing
with the South Carolina Secretary of State, then the Association’s assets will
be distributed to one or more charitable organizations that are in good standing
with the South Carolina Secretary of State.

Thank you so much for contacting SC Mid-State Beekeepers Association (MSBA). This email may not be checked daily as the secretary is a volunteer position, but we will respond to your message as soon as possible.

Please email David Gobbel at DFGobbelJr@aol.com if you find a swarm and need someone to collect it safely and quickly.